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Another Year in Tokyo

And sometimes elsewhere.

travelplan

June: places to go in and from Tokyo

June 2, 2020

Best with: plum sake (umeshu, or 梅酒), and non-stop rainy days.

June has not been my favorite month of year. It is after the golden-week vacation, it gets hot and sweaty easily, it marks the start of the rainy season in Tokyo area, and the worst of all: it has no public holidays in it – all makes it a bit hard to plan any getaways in this long month.

However, when I was checking my old pictures over the years, I realized I did travel around quite a lot during this month. Those were all little day trips, or one night, tops; but there are many beautiful pictures of this particular season when one of my favorite flowers blooms in the area of Tokyo: the hydrangea, or Ajisai (紫陽花) in both Japanese and Chinese.

Where to see hydrangea blossoms in Tokyo area

Interestingly, my first blog here is about this flower, and you can review that one for some old picture. It is about my favorite town near Tokyo as well, Kamakura, where I have been millions of times.

In the city of Tokyo, my favorite spot for seeing this flower is Hakusan shrine (白山神社). I used to live very close to it, so maybe that is also why. I found some old pictures again, some featuring a younger version of me. 🙂

Outside of Tokyo… green looks the best after rain in Nikko (日光)

By the end of June, or even beginning of July, the entire east Japan is in the middle of the rainy season. Every year, it has been difficult to decide where to go to celebrate P’s birthday, which is on July 1st. Actually, there are quite some gems that shine even better after a good rain.

This is where people visit during summer, the sacred mountain area north to Tokyo: Nikko (日光). I have been to it numerous times, including in summer when it brings coolness and autumn when the leaves are just beautiful. You would imagine in June it may be less beautiful, but actually the greenish nature after rain is just like a fairytale coming true:

Or, go north to get a good dip in the Onsen (温泉) in the northern prefectures

The north part of east Japan can be difficult to get there, as it is not like the big cities such as Tokyo where you have dozens of lines at each train station. Nontheless, I always imagine it is how Japan should look like behind the curtains.

To escape the heat, I would travel north to wander in the nature, or in the “ghost” towns. The trip to Iwate prefecture, Ichinoseki city (岩手県一関市) and the nearby Hanamaki town (花巻) was one of such memories. The views are amazing. And nothing beats a good night rest in a cozy Onsen Ryokan (温泉旅館) near some mountain stream with rain in the background, where you can both warm up after a long day and enjoy a traditional and less pricy Kaiseki Ryori (懐石料理), sometimes with quality Japanese beef, or Wagyu (和牛).

This year, where should I go (if possible at all..)?

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Filed Under: Ask a Local, Destinations, Favourite, Japan, Photography, Seasonal specials, Tohoku, Travel Tagged With: fujifilmxt1, photography, seasonal, travelplan

2017 Wishlist: Travel part

January 14, 2017

The farther most of 2016 in Japan: Hanamaki, Iwate prefecture (花巻 岩手県) in July.

Let’s ignore the fact that it has been two weeks into 2017 already, that I just started to think about 2017. You see, after a lazy new year holiday break, followed by two crazy weeks of emails, urgencies, and work procrastinated from the last year, it is actually not easy for one with full time work to sit down quietly and meditate. However I had to, because it is my birthday month, therefore no matter what I would not want to delay the pleasure of thinking about travel plans this year as a “to-do” item into my new year.

For the past two years, I have been to most of the popular places around Tokyo, and getting quite familiar with some of those. This year I want to extend my coverage, from day trip focused travel style to two or three days compact travels, and go further into other prefectures than Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba. I have been to some, but I was too tourist alike and from this year I want to tour more like a local.

  • Hokuriku (北陸)

With the new Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線) started it has become easier to travel there with a two or three days plan. I liked Nagano prefecture (長野県) when I went there last summer, and will definitely go again well planned this year. But Nagano is not the terminal of Hokuriku Shinkansen. This year, I will go to the Hokuriku prefectures for sure. Start with a three-day trip to Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture (金沢 石川県) for my birthday.

  • Kyushu (九州)

Nagasaki (長崎) seems to be a popular destination for tourists, but I was never a big fan of it. Similar places but not in Kyushu include Kobe, and Osaka. I would be interested in Kumamoto prefecture (熊本県), but with the earthquake last year, it may not be a wise idea now. It may be a good idea to go to Oita prefecture (大分県) for its famour Onsen in autumn or winter, and go to Miyazaki prefecture (宮崎県) for the only mango production in Japan, but where I have always been hoping to go is Kagoshima prefecture (鹿児島県), to see the volcanic island Sakura-jima (桜島) and adventure in Yakushima (屋久島) where it is said to be the origin of the famous movie Mononoke Hime (もののけ姫) of Miyazaki Hayao (宮崎駿).

  • Maybe…. Kyoto (京都)?

I really don’t know. Kyoto, is too popular with tourists these days – no season difference, full packs of tourists from Japan and overseas all year long. And no need to mention the high price of hotels and Ryokans as a result, and sometimes the deviations in the service. I would still, try to visit there during the Kouyou (紅葉) season, perhaps. It would be a big project as I may also go to the mountain areas nearby.

  • Xi’an, China

Home visit in February would be so much more fun with a visit to my birth place, Xi’an! I would probably not travel, as I am too familiar with this ancient city and all it could offer for a tourist, but will definitely share some advice on food hunting. Or anything else.

  • Cuba

This is definitely one of the biggest projects this year. It is kind of pity that I can only go to Cuba with Fidel Castro gone already, but I would hate it if I can not go while Cuba is still what it is now, before being changed by the outside world. Not sure if this is politically correct, though.

  • Peru

When my friend Nancy and I went to Spain for vacation last year, we originally wanted to go to Peru. But we couldn’t, because the ticket to Machu Picchu on our available days sold out by the time we decided our schedule. But this year we are going to make it! Hopefully.

So far, this is the plan. I will most likely change it along the year, adding more and removing some, but so far it looks good.

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Filed Under: "Junyi says..." Tagged With: blog, japan, travelplan, wishlist

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Current resident in Tokyo bringing you with good food, trips, and lifestyle ideas from the east! Read More…

Pistachio and strawberry and white chocolate and a Pistachio and strawberry and white chocolate and a ton of sweetness with girlfriend 😇 lovely meal at @restaurant_ryuzu
I’ve seen Mt Fuji three times this year. #japan I’ve seen Mt Fuji three times this year. #japan #mtfuji #yamanakako #iphonex can still take some good #landscape pictures 🙌🏻
#2021 starting strong with a very good day. 🙂. #2021 starting strong with a very good day. 🙂. #ootd #japan last week of vacation.
#2021 Wishing a much much better 2021 with more ad #2021 Wishing a much much better 2021 with more adventure and exploration. 🙏🏻
#okinawa #summer2020
Winter getaway👒#taketomiisland #okinawa #ootd # Winter getaway👒#taketomiisland #okinawa #ootd #beach
The time of a year for my favorite pink boots. #oo The time of a year for my favorite pink boots. #ootd
A strange angle. Miss such sunshine days. #fujifi A strange angle. Miss such sunshine days. 
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#storytelling
Dim sum Saturday ☺️. #dimsum #saturdayout Dim sum Saturday ☺️.
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Sunshine on a German Sunday should not go wasted ( Sunshine on a German Sunday should not go wasted (i.e. without a pic) 🥰 #coventgarden #unterbilk. 
Photo credit: @angkersong
Some random pastel colors #unterbilk Some random pastel colors #unterbilk
Blue baby. Mine. #rockglass #glasscraft #diy Blue baby. Mine. 
#rockglass 
#glasscraft 
#diy
Tried making glass for the first time. I’m not e Tried making glass for the first time. I’m not even sure if what I did can be called as “crafting”, but it did feel good to create something! 😌 p.s., apparently I’m having difficulties in blowing and turning an extremely hot object at the same time... 😅.
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Waiting for my unique signatured rock glass 🥃 .
#kamakura 
#meltingsilicon 
#glasscrafting
Let there be light (in the food). #modernfrench #l Let there be light (in the food). #modernfrench #lowlights #wine for lunch 🥂
谢谢老孔的壮行饭🥳 @kp.8589 #ginza #soci 谢谢老孔的壮行饭🥳 @kp.8589 #ginza #socialdistancing style dinner😅 #huawei takes perfect pics 👌🏻
平日のお昼に懐石料理。美味しかったです🙏🏻
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Lunch on a weekday at Michelin credited Japanese restaurant🙈
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